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The Daily Insight Hub

Do businesses accept credit cards?

Author

Sophia Koch

Updated on January 29, 2026

No matter what type of business you have, you need to be able to accept credit card payments from your customers. Consumers prefer credit cards over cash payments by a significant margin.

Why do businesses not accept credit cards?

Lack of internet connection. In rural areas, internet connectivity is sometimes the reason businesses do not accept credit cards. They may also choose to only accept cash because they have a lower volume of customers or a larger percentage of unbanked customers.

Can a merchant accept only debit cards?

Accepting Debit Cards Only Debit cards cannot be surcharged. If a customer chooses to pay with their debit card, you can’t add a fee. Some states prohibit credit card surcharges as well. In states that prohibit all surcharges, accepting only debit cards can be a way to lower processing costs.

Can a business refuse payment by credit card?

Can businesses refuse to accept cards? Any business is within its rights to refuse a method of payment. The question is whether this will affect their custom by doing so, especially as the use of non-cash payments is growing fast.

Why would a business want to accept credit cards?

Credit cards can increase your revenue Businesses, in general, tend to see around a 20% increase in sales when they offer their customers the ability to pay with credit cards. Customers generally like to credit cards for convenience, ability to delay cashflow, and reward points.

Why would a business be cash-only?

When a restaurant is cash-only, it’s easy to shield income from taxes. If a restaurant owner is able to obscure how much revenue they’re bringing in, they can report that they’re earning less than they actually are and pay less income taxes.

What percent of small businesses accept credit cards?

In another survey conducted by WePay, which offers an online payment mechanism to accept credit cards (not dramatically different from Paypal), it found that 58 percent of small businesses are regularly asked by their customers to accept credit cards.

Can a company refuse payment by credit card?

Why do some businesses only accept cash?

Accepting credit card payments for small business can be overwhelming. And for some small companies, accepting multiple payment options isn’t a priority. You might choose to only accept cash because of factors like the price of your products, number of employees, and credit card fees.

Can a business accept payments with a credit card?

More Americans are relying on credit and debit cards as a payment method instead of cash or checks. You can accept credit card payments whether you run a large business or a small one. Setting up your business to accept credit card payments doesn’t have to be a complicated process.

Is it better to not accept credit cards?

If you think your business is saving money by not accepting credit cards, think again. Paying credit card processing fees is less expensive than spending time chasing delinquent customers who only use old-fashioned payment forms, like checks.

Can a business refuse to accept a credit card?

If a customer does not supply the necessary identification, you are not obligated to accept his card. Similarly, if a customer doesn’t meet the minimum purchase threshold for using credit cards at your store, you can refuse his credit card. Why should I take credit cards vs. cash?

When do you need to accept credit card payments?

For example, you could choose to accept credit cards if: You have a traditional small business with employees You have a mobile business (such as a food truck or dog grooming service) In any of those scenarios, accepting credit card payments could work in your favor if it makes it easier for customers to pay.